Melyanarrim’Elena Scribe and Print Shoppe

[Tauro]

For many generations within Ethgan’tor the Melyanarrim’Elena House has held a stranglehold on the books, scrolls and other forms of print that appear within the Moriquendi city. It was Jothelia Melyanarrim’Elena, the first House Matron, who saw the need for such an establishment, and during her time she founded the business that lies near the main temple and estate of the household. In its infancy, the business ran as a scribe shoppe offering to write in elegant script important documents and books for those wealthy enough to afford their services. As time went on, the business grew, and the original structure, once a two-room cottage, was replaced with a larger, two storied building with an extended workshop behind the main the entrance.

In the years following Jothelia’s death, and under the second House Matron Abigania Melyanarrim’Elena, a printing press was constructed. The greatest minds of the house were instructed by Abigania to build a device that would allow the business to produce books at much faster rate. The Melyanarrim Press was the child of these minds. It works on a series of mechanisms, including pullies and cranks, and requires three workers to keep it maintained and operational. Letters are carved from stone, and when placed in a certain sequence and marked with ink, they press those letters on sheets of paper which are then bound together into various types of spines. These books, while not as special as ones hand-scribed, are nonetheless desirable and affordable by the general populace of Ethgan’tor. With the creation of the press, the business continued to grow, and in present time, has become an institution much admired by the citizenry of the city.

Those who approach the building now see a curved and smooth architectural structure, much like the Melyannarim’Elena estate home, with symbols of all of the ruling Houses of Ethgan’tor etched painstakingly into the surface of the wood. The main entrance is a single, thick maple door with a turn ring that unlatches and causes the door to be opened outwards. Three marble steps lead up to the entrance, and a hedged fence lines either side of a cobblestone path from the road. On either side of the path is a small garden filled with multi-coloured roses and tulips. A large window on the right side of the door is glazed over as if covered with a permanent frost, and a sign above the doorway reads Melyanarrim’Elena Scribe and Print Shoppe.

The outer room of the shoppe is where customers come to discuss their business and purchase supplies – such as paper, pens and ink. The smell of ink fills the air, together with a hint of oil, which comes from the various products laid out around the room. The right side of the room and one various shelves are stacks of paper of differing sizes, colours and types. The quality of the paper is determined by the process of its creation, the colour and the overall thickness. On a pair of shelves fastened between the walls of the front window are various bottles of ink. Coming in different colours, the Melynarrim’Elena ink is known for its quality and its quickness in drying. Straight ahead from the door is the counter that runs from one side of the room to the other. Over the years it has seen much use and looks worn with chip carved out in various sections. Behind the counter a single door to the right leads into the back of the building where the press and storage room is found. The stairs leading up to the second level are also found somewhere behind the door, and it is common knowledge that the scribes work through the day and into the night on the upper level working with only small candles to assist them.

Standing behind the counter is Deardraphia Melyanarrim’Elena, the second eldest daughter of the House Matron, who is responsible for the day-to-day dealings with customers who come into the shoppe. She is thin and tall, for a Moriquendi, with a fair face, bright, wide eyes and a small, slender nose. She is always fond of wrapping silvery vines through the strands of her shimmering white hair that fall down past the middle of her back. She is unmarried, though many have tried to court her, but has been unimpressed with any who have come calling in the past. Now in her 114th year, she has become a well-thought of addition to the family business. Usually, she is found seated behind the counter working on some project writing in a beautiful and flowing script. Whenever someone enters the shoppe, she merely raises her head and smiles, waiting for them to approach her before attending to their needs.

Prices:

Paper (Standard Sized)

Papyrus, low quality: 20 sheets per crown
Paper, low quality: 10 sheets per crown
Paper, average quality: 4 sheets per crown
Paper, good quality: 1 sheet per crown
Paper, great quality: 1 sheet per 5 crowns

For a colour other than white or off-white, add 1 crown to cost. Only paper products of average quality or better are available in different colours. Larger or smaller sheets of paper require speaking with the clerk to obtain the cost.

Ink

Common black ink, small jar: 2 crowns
Common black ink, large jar: 5 crowns
Quality black ink, small jar: 7 crowns
Quality black ink, large jar: 17 crowns
Coloured ink (blue/red/green), small jar: 8 crowns
Coloured ink (blue/red/green), large jar: 20 crowns

Quills/Pens

Common Quill: 1 crown
Unique Quill: 4 crowns
Wooden Fountain Pen, Common: 5 crowns
Wooden Fountain Pan, Decorative: 15 crowns
Silver Fountain Pen, Common: 35 crowns
Silver Fountain Pen, Decorative: 80 crowns
Gold Fountain Pen, Decorative: 250 crowns

Publishing & Scribe Service:

Common Binding: 1 crown per page
Leather Binding: 3 crowns per page
Decorative Leather Binding: 5 crowns per page
Scribe Service, Common Script: 3 crowns per page
Scribe Service, Calligraphy: 6 crowns per page
Artwork: Speak to Clerk for Quote on Desired Design/Picture